Kuhl’s Lorikeet

(Vini kuhlii)

Project Status: Completed | 2007 - 2012

Collaborators/Funders

San Diego Zoo’s Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species (CRES), Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, Lory Conservation Network

Endangered island lorikeet on edge of survival

Kuhl's Lorikeet (Vini kuhlii) is Endangered in the wild due to past exploitation for its red feathers. Modern threats include predation by rats and trapping for the wild bird trade.

Project progress: Beginning in 2007 the Trust took part in the conservation of this lorikeet by:

Financing the transfer of the birds through its Action Grants Programme
Supporting studies on the effects of feral Myna bird populations on the species
Funding the population census for 2011

Outcomes: In 2007, in a collaboration between the Rimatara people, the French Polynesian government, and the Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, 27 Kuhl's Lorikeets were translocated from Rimatara to Atiu. Staff from the San Diego Zoo and its Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species (CRES) helped to collect the birds with mist nets, cared for the birds in quarantine, and evaluated the birds' condition prior to release. Over the next eight years, feral Myna birds were eliminated from Atiu, so that the lorikeets could breed in peace. Ten years on, a survey has found that the population has increased to an estimated 385 birds.

{projects_take-action}

IUCN/CITES Status: Endangered / Appendix II

Wild population: 2000, decreasing.

Where found: Rimatara in the Austral Island group of French Polynesia; Tabuaran and Teriana in the Kiribata Island nation, and most recently, re-established on the island of Atiu in the Cook Islands.

History: Before Europeans arrived Kuhl’s Lorikeet (Vini kuhlii) lived on several of the Southern Cook Islands and Rimatara, a nearby island in French Polynesia where there is presently a population of about 1000 birds. Another approximately 1000 birds live in the northern Line Islands of Kiribati, where they were introduced in prehistoric times. Birds were recently reintroduced to Atiu (Cook Islands). Their prehistoric extinction in the Cook Islands was a result of exploitation for their red feathers. A significant present-day threat is the Black Rat, Rattus rattus.

Threats:

Exploitation for its red feathers on the Cook Islands
Predation by Black rats, Rattus rattus
Trapping for the wild bird trade
Nest competition and disturbance from the Common Myna Acridotheres tristis

Ecology: Kuhl's Lorikeet is found on several Pacific islands – Rimatara, possibly Tubuai, Washington (Teraina), Fanning and Kiritimati in Polynesia and the Line Group, Kiribati. It prefers mixed horticultural woodland, forested valleys growing coconuts, and ground habitation. On Teraina Island it is confined to coconut plantations. This lorikeet was also recently reintroduced to Atiu in the Cook Islands. They prefer socializing in pairs or small flocks and are often seen flying above palm treetops, where they also take nectar and pollen as their main food.